We Are The Art Life: Lula Wayne Interview

Welcome back to Matt Armitage’s and my bi-weekly feature, We Are The Art Life, where we talk to fans who create art inspired by Twin Peaks and David Lynch. This week we talk to Lula Wayne – Italian graphic artist, illustrator, photographer, musician, mother and ‘Bookhouse Babe’, about her extraordinary and eclectic talent.

25YL: Thank you Lula for talking to me today. You are a bit of a woman of mystery! Your persona shines through on Twitter and Instagram, but could you tell us a little bit about the woman behind it all?

LW: First of all thank you so much for this opportunity! Well, I’m largely what you see on my socials. I spend much of my time in contact with art. I am a graphic designer but above all an “art nerd”. Of all kinds. I walked out on stage for the first time at 4 years old. I opened my first books more or less in the same period. I ran into the art of David Lynch at age 5 and that has left its mark. Let’s say I live a lot on the inside and not so much on outside. My affections are very patient with me, I’m pretty difficult!

25YL: You are extremely talented, not just as an artist but as a musician too – can you tell us more about all your work?

LW: As I said I started early. At 4 years old I performed for the first time and I thought that was what I wanted to do! I still do! I learned by myself, both to sing and play the guitar. In 2017 I had the chance to carry out a small show inspired by the cinema of Lynch. I enjoyed it like crazy. As for the artwork, I stopped for some time, I created just for work. But the third season of Twin Peaks was a mystic experience. The inspiration simply came. It’s hard to explain. It was magic, maybe.

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25YL: Your personal style and beauty is mesmerizing – almost like you are a David Lynch creation come to life. When did your love affair with Lynch start? Was it Twin Peaks or a movie that got you into it?

LW: This is a wonderful compliment, thank you so much. My love for Lynch started in a scary way. My parents were fans of Twin Peaks, they watched it every week. It was 1991 if I’m not wrong. I was 5 years old and the house was rather small, so happened to see some footage. I remember seeing BOB, I didn’t know anything about what was going on but that character terrified me. Every week when the show began I knew I shouldn’t look but I still tried to find a way to take a look. I cannot say whether it was a good thing or a bad thing, but that series remained with me for such a long time. And later all the other works of Lynch. In his films there is room for the worst human inclinations. He is a very honest artist. I have an enormous respect for him.

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25YL: How did find Twin Peaks Series 3? You have created some amazing artwork inspired by what we saw, I particularly love “Some of your friends are here” – can you tell me more about your thoughts behind those creations?

LW: I loved Season 3. I quickly realised that I didn’t have to try to understand it but I had to feel it and I swear I felt every possible emotion! Not to mention the soundtrack. That series in particular, “Some of your friends are here” is born from a song. From “American Woman”, the piece that accompanies the entrance of Mr. C in Part 1. It gives you all the hints about the tone of the show. I was listening to that when I had the first ideas for those drawings. I was thinking about Mr C, its obsessive mind. Obsessions are able to take a lot of our personality, I guess.

“Some of your friends are here”

25YL: You can change your style effortlessly it seems, for example “The Tales of Dale and Audrey” is perfect 50’s elegance, and very different from say “Becky B” or “Laura and BOB in the train car”. Do you have a favourite style or is it good to mix it up a bit? How do you create your art – do you have various mediums?

LW: I love the 80’s graphic novel style more than anything. James O’Barr is one of my favourite artists. But at the same time I’m a fan of Japanese Mangas, so if I can I try a bit of everything. I work a lot with free hand, but colours and effects are added digitally.

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25YL: One of my favourite artists of all time is Mucha so when I saw your women of Twin Peaks in Mucha style I was in love! I so want them on my walls. It must be difficult to choose but do you have a favourite creation?

LW: I generally I prefer to paint women. I adore feminine lips. My favourite works however all include Laura Palmer. For me she really is The One.

“Dale Cooper’s dream – The beautiful woman”

25YL: Lula Pace Fortune is my kindred spirit – I adore the portrait you have done of her. You really bring out the strength of tormented women in your work, being a mother is that important to you?

LW: Absolutely Yes! Indeed, I find that the power of women of Lynch is right in the fact that they all survived. Very often the life rages on them, in so many sneaky ways. To recognise the dignity in women even after trauma is an issue that feels important in the work of Lynch and I appreciate his vision. As a mother, sometimes I only see the evil in the world, but then I look at my son and I honestly don’t care about anything anymore. Love is stronger. It is a concept that seems corny but that’s what makes the world go round.

“Peanut”

25YL: Sherilyn Fenn used your piece “Dreaming Audrey” for her profile picture on Twitter, how did that feel?

LW: It was a surprise! She said very nice words about my artwork and I was impressed. To know that I played the right way a character like Audrey, with all its mysteries, felt so good. Sherilyn is a very sweet human being.

“Dreaming Audrey”

25YL: Are you creating something new every day? you must be so busy?

LW: At the moment I feel very inspired. I hope to feel like this for while!

25YL: Can we buy your work? and if not yet do you have plans to make it available for fans?

LW: After some technical delays I should be able to have the prints ready to find a new home in mid-February. People are welcome to Direct Message me are for details!

25YL: What is next for Lula?

LW: At the moment I am working on a project I really care about. I can’t talk about it in detail but if you are into symphonic music and Twin Peaks I think you’ll like it a lot.

25YL: Thank you Lula, it has been wonderful to find out more about the woman behind the magic and we all very excited to see what you have up your sleeve next!

LW: Thanks for having me, I feel so grateful. The Twin Peaks community and its support made all this possible. Thank you ❤️